Sequential sewing apparatus



July 4, 1967 Filed Jan. 19, 1965 A. C. BERGERON SEQUENTIAL SEWINGAPPARATUS 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 une"- VINVENTOR ARTHUR C. BERGERON A. c.BERGERON 3,329,1 l0 SEQUENTIAL SEWING APPARATUS 5 Shet$-$heet 2 BY w rww m ATTORNEYS Jul 4, 1967 Filed Jan.

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ATTORNEYS A. C. BERGERON SEQUENTIAL SEWING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 19655 eets-Sheet START HQ 6 CLAMP 4- L M 31 BUTTON /1 MAN. SENSE b 5 r sw2 MSW4 E AUTO 0 SW3 I sws (-104 ARM. sw. E

I M s? 52J m R2l fir i *7 p51 R5 g 53 V 6 1 w PS2 T w 0 H m I b @Re I il 5 R3 M51 I m l l l M52 0 w w s l h b Lu 1 :1 B I Z l 5 AC L|NE--INVENTOR. ARTHUR C. BEFTGERON BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,329,110 SEQUENTIAL SEWING APPARATUS Arthur C. Bergeron, Seekonk,Mass., assignor to A. J. Mitchell C0., Fall River, Mass., a corporationof Massachusetts Filed Jan. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 426,615 16 Claims. (Cl.1122) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article positioning device whichincludes a releasable fabric clamp attached to an intermittently rotateddriven drum, which clamp pulls the leading edge of the fabric over awork station. The drum is driven about its axis through a series ofintermediate work stations with the fabric on the top surface of thedrum. The article positioning means is responsive to a signal from asewing means and a button feeding means whereby after a button is sewnon the fabric the article positioning means moves the fabric on the topsurface of the drum in a uniform manner a predetermined distance andthen stops and actuates the sewing means to commence the cycle again.

My invention relates to garment manufacture, and more particularly tonovel apparatus for performing repetitive operations such as buttonsewing at a sequence of spaced locations on an article such as a shirt.

Operations such as button sewing, buttonhole making, bar-tacking, theattachment of snap fasteners, and the like, must frequently be performedat a series of accurately spaced locations on articles of fabric,leather, plastic or the like. Numerous machines have been devised forcarrying out the individual operations automatically, however, prior tomy invention, so far as I am aware, the step of moving the material fromone position to the next, after such an operation has been performed,has been most suc cessfully performed by an operator who would manuallyreposition the material after each sewing operation. This operation isrelatively time-consuming, as the material must be carefully relocatedeach time a new operation is to be performed, and the possibilities forerror are multiplied by the number of operations to be performed on eacharticle. Attempts to devise machines for the purpose have not beenentirely successful, as they have not succeeded in dealing with theproblem of cumulative position error, and have provided no satisfactorysolution to the problem of handling the material created by the factthat the article must in some instances be slightly moved during theoperation. The objects of my invention are to facilitate the rapidperformance of a sequence of operationsat a series of accurately spacedlocations on an article and to improve the productivity of machineoperators by reducing the number of operations that must be carried outby hand.

In its broader aspects, my invention is applicable to any of such commonsequential operations as sewing on buttons, making buttonholes,bar-tacking, attaching snap fasteners, and the like, A specific andpreferred embodiment of my invention is especially adapted for use insewing a series of buttons on an article such as a shirt. This preferredembodiment comprises a sewing machine having an automatic button feedingattachment in combination with a material positioning device on which anarticle on which buttons are to be sewn can be placed.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, thematerial positioning device comprises a rotatable drum carrying twoclamps at diametrically opposed locations, each clamp being used duringa different part of the machine cycle to clamp the leading edge of ashirt panel and move the panel to a series of sewing positions on thework table of the sewing machine as the drum is rotated to successivelocations determined by adjustable carns mounted on the drum. Thematerial positioning device is adapted for use with machines forperforming other operations, such as those described above, with littleor no modification, by providing the necessary mechanism forinterconnection with the machine to permit automatic cyclic operation,in a manner to be illustrated by description of the preferredembodiment. Apparatus is provided for yielda-bly tensioning the shirtpanel as it is moved by the clamp, and for guiding the panel in astraight line to the sewing machine. The combination of the single clampfor the leading edge of a shirt panel with the guiding and tensioningmeans for the trailing part is an important feature of my invention. Bythis arrangement, the tension of the material is automatically keptuniform. Control means are provided for initiating a first sewing cycleafter the panel has been placed in position, to sew a first button onthe material. Control apparatus is provided for automatically rotatingthe drum from one position to the next at the conclusion of a cycle ofoperation of the button feeding attachment, and for initiating anothercycle of the button feeding attachment when the drum is latched intoeach succeeding position. Means are provided for relieving the tensionon the shirt panel during the drum latching operation, so that a buttonmay be moved during the sewing cycle. This tension relief is useful notonly in button sewing, where the button is moved after a first pair ofholes has been sewn to the article so that a second pair can be sewn,but also in other operations requiring slight movement of the articleduring the operation. At the conclusion of the The apparatus of myinvention will best be understood in the light of the following detaileddescription, together with accompanying drawings, of a preferredembodiment thereof.

substantially along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3 with parts omitted forclarity;

FIG. is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the lines 5-5in FIG. 3, with parts omitted for clarity; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of control apparatus forming a partof the sequential sewing apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 5.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the automatic sewing apparatus of myinvention essentially comprises a conventional sewing machine 1, anautomatic button feeding attachment 2, and the material positioningapparatus of my invention generally designated by 3, all mountedtogether on a suitable support. The sewing machine 1 is arranged to beoperated by the button feeding attachment 2 in the manner shown anddescribed in detail in US. Letters Patent No. 2,921,544, issued on Jan.19, 1960, to Grant N. Willis and Frank A. Clary, ]r., for Button FeedingAttachment for Sewing Machines. Referring to that patent, a buttonfeeding attachment for a sewing machine is disclosed that is operativeto actuate the sewing machine to sew a button on a piece of material,and, at the conclusion of the sewing operation, to break the thread andreplace the button in the button holder on the sewing machine by anotherbutton. Briefly, and referring again to FIG. 1, beginning with a buttonin position on the sewing machine 1, operation is commenced by movementof a lever 104 shown in detail in the patent and indicated schematicallyby the dotted line 104 in FIG. 1. In response to movement of the lever104, the button feeding attachment actuates a rod 136 interconnectingthe sewing machine and the button feeding attachment as schematicallyindicated in FIG. 1, whereupon the sewing machine proceeds to sew thebutton on the desired article. When the sewing operation is finished,the sewing machine actuates an interconnecting rod shown schematicallyat 164 in FIG. 1 to cause the button feeding attachment 2 to placeanother button in position on the sewing machine, involving the movementof a transfer arm 62, and when the arm 62 is returned to its originalposition, the operation is complete. As indicated schematically in FIG.1, in addition to the apparatus just described, means are required formomentarily changing the state of a twoposition switch SW5 as the arm 62returns to its original position, for purposes to appear. Any suitableconventional expedient may be adopted for this purpose, but asschematically illustrated I have shown the switch as being actuated byan auxiliary cam 81 mounted on the cam shaft 80 of the button feedingattachment. A protuberance on the cam 81 engages the armature of theswitch SW5 and changes the state of the switch briefly just before thearm 62 returns to its initial position. Preferably, the cam 81 isadjusta bly mounted on the shaft 80, as by means of a set screw, so thatthe timing of the actuation of the switch SW5 can be adjusted.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the material positioning apparatus of myinvention comprises a suitable housing 4, in which is rotatably mounteda drum 5. The leading edge of a shirt front panel 6 is arranged to befixed with respect to the drum by means of a clamp generally indicatedat 7. As indicated in FIG. 1, the clamp 7 carries the shirt front overan arcuate guide surface forming part of the housing 4. The shirt front6 is yieldably guided by an edge guide 8 and a combined tensioning andguiding means 9. As will appear, the tensioning and guiding means 9yieldably urges the shirt front down against a support surface formingpart of the housing 4 and maintains uniform tension in the fabric. Whenthe apparatus is in the position shown and ready for the first sewingoperation, means are provided for actuating the arm 104 to cause thefirst button to be sewn by initiating a cycle of the button feedingattachment to operate the sewing machine 1. At the end of this sewingoperation, a new button is placed in the button clamp of the sewingmachine (see FIG. 5) by the button feeding attachment 2, and at the endof the cycle of operation of the button 4 feeding attachment the switchSW5 is momentarily actuated, signalling the control apparatus within thehousing 3 to rotate the drum 5 to a second position defined by anadjustable cam stop. When the drum is in position, the arm 104 is againactuated to cause a sewing operation. This action continues for as manysequential sewing operations as may be desired, within a degree rotationof the drum 5. At this point, the shirt panel is away from the sewingstation and the operator may throw the tail over a drape rod 10 so thatit has the general outward appearance suggested at 11. A second shirtpanel is then placed on the machine in the manner shown at 6, and asecond 180 degree rotation takes place, during which the first shirtfront is automatically released and dropped over a drape rack 12, fromwhich it may be removed by an operator when a sufficient number hasaccumulated. Thus, buttons may be sewn on two shirt fronts during asingle revolution of the drum. Alternatively, the apparatus may bearranged to complete only a single cycle of operations per revolution ofthe drum, as where longer articles are to be handled.

Having described the general arrangement and operation of the apparatusof my invention in connection with FIG. 1, reference is now made toFIGS. 2 through 5 for a more detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof. Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 5, the edge guide 8is mounted on the frame 4 by suitable conventional means, and at itsforward end is mounted a forward guide 13. The shirt front is led upunder the forward guide 13 and alongside the edge guide 8, being urgedto the edge guide by the combined tensioning and guiding means 9,comprising a temple 14 of conventional construction having an edgeinclined forwardly towards the edge guide 8 and being mounted on an arm15 pivoted to the frame at 16 and urged downwardly against the fabric ofthe shirt front by an adjustable weight 17 threaded on a stud 18. Thematerial passes under the material hold-down plate 19 of the sewingmachine 1. Above the material hold-down plate 19, a button holder 20 ofthe sewing machine holds a button 21 in place for sewing by the needle22.

Beyond the button sewing station, at a distance equal to one buttonseparation space on' the shirt front to be sewn, is the arm 23 of abutton-sensing switch SW2. This switch is adapted to be closed by abutton sewn on the shirt front after the first button is sewn and willinterrupt the continued operation of the apparatus in a manner to bedescribed if no button is sensed. As shown, in the reference state ofthe apparatus corresponding to the beginning of a cycle, next beyond thearm 23 is a clamp 7 and a clamp pad 24, the latter being mounted on aclamp base 25 formed of metal or the like and fixed to the drum 5. Asindicated, the clamp arm 7 extends within the drum 5, for actuation in amanner to appear.

Above the clamp base is a guide 26 adjustably mounted on a scale 27 andarranged for use by an operator in positioning the shirt front at thebeginning of the cycle so that it will be accurately located withrespect to the clamp base 24 before the clamp 7 is actuated to bring itinto contact and hold the shirt front. As indicated in FIG. 5, the scale27 is formed with a bracket extension for mounting on the frame 4 of themachine. As suggested in FIG. 5, the drape rack 12 is mounted to theframe 4 by suitable means such as brackets 28. The drape rod 10 ismounted on the frame by means of a suitable bracket 29.

Referring next to FIG. 3, the frame 4 of the apparatus comprises a backplate 30 on which is mounted a motor mounting bracket 31. A drive motor32 of conventional alternating current induction construction is shownmounted on the bracket 31. A conventional brake band 33 passes around apulley 34 on the output shaft 38 of the motor 32, and is held in brakingengagement with the pulley by means of a spring 35. This arrangementassists in stopping the motor when the current is removed.

Adjustably secured to the output shaft 36 of the motor 32, as by a setscrew or the like, is a 180 degree cam 37 (see also FIG. 4) whichactuates a single pole, double throw orientation switch SW6 ofconventional construction to a first position during one-half revolutionof the drum 5, and to a second position during the second half. Theshaft 36 is journalled as indicated at 37 in the frame 4, andintermediate the bearing and the cam 37 is mounted the hub 38 of thedrum 5, the hub being connected to the drum by means of spokes 39 and40. The drum is supported and guided at the end opposite the hub bymeans of rollers such as 41 journalled on brackets such as 42 mounted onthe end plate 30.

Fixed to the mounting bracket 31 by means of intermediate plates andbrackets 43, 44 and 45, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, are a lowerposition switch PS1 and an upper position switch PS2. These switches areprovided with an actuating roller 46 to at times be closed by a suitablyformed face on one of five locating cams 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51. Whilefive cams are shown, it should be understood that this number is notcritical, and merely corresponds to the number of operations to beperformed in the particular embodiment illustrated. Mounted on suitableextensions of the same brackets and connected to the mountnig bracket 31are a lower stop switch SW3 and an upper stop switch SW4, each beingprovided with a suitable actuating roller 46 for actuation at times byan extension 52 formed on the first cam 47 and not provided on the othercams. The switches are constructed such that with the cams 47 in theposition shown in FIG. 4, the switch SW3 will be open, and in theposition 180 degrees away from the position shown, the switch SW4 willbe open, both switches being closed at other times.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the cams 47 through 51 are adjustably mountedon the drum 5 by means of pins such as 53 passing through an arcuateslot 54 formed in an annular flange 56 attached to the drum 5. The earns47 through 51 may be secured in any desired relative spaced positionsalong the slot 54 by means of bolts such as 55 threaded into the cams,the cams being located by means of a scale, not shown, but engraved,painted or otherwise inscribed on the face 56a of the flange 56 (FIG.3). As indicated schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cams such as 47 areprovided with a slot at their rear faces, indicated at 57 on the cam 49in FIG. 4, forming a keeper to at times receive one of two locatinglatches 58 and 59 mounted on the output shafts 60 and 61, respectively,of two solenoids S3 and S4, respectively. As indicated in FIG. 3, thelatches 58 and 59 are urged outwardly by springs 62 and 63,respectively, and may be retracted by actuation of the associatedsolenoid.

The solenoids S3 and S4 are each mounted to the mounting bracket 31 bymeans of the intermediate brackets shown, and are arranged whenenergized to actuate a pair of microswitches, a microswitch MSl beingactuated by the solenoid S3 and a microswitch MS2 being actuated by thesolenoid S4, actuation taking place near the end of the stroke of thesolenoid.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, the clamp 7 and a corresponding clamp 7adisplaced 180 degrees from the clamp 7 extend within the drum 5 and areconnected to levers 64 pivotally mounted on pins 65 journalled tobrackets 66 connected to the frame 5. Pivotally mounted to each lever 64is an anouate arm 67. Each lever 67 is connected by means of a spring 68to the drum 5, urging its associated lever 64 in a clockwise direction.The opposite end of each lever 67 is pivotally connected to one end of alever 69, formed with an integral projection 70 and journalled by meansof pins such as 71 in brackets such as 72 connected to the frame 5. Theprojections 70 are adapted to be engaged either by the actuating arm 73of a clamp release solenoid S1 mounted on the back plate 30, or by a camming bar 74 shown in FIG. 5 and also mounted on the back plate 30. Thecamming bar 74 may be connected to the back plate 30 by forming itintegral with one of the roller support brackets 42. With the latch 70retracted by either of these means, as indicated in FIG. 5 for theprojection 70 associated with the clamp 7, the clamp will be raised outof engagement with the clamp 'base. If the clamp is in the positionshown for the clamp 7, it will 'be in position for a new article to beinserted under the clamp. If the clamp is in the second 180 degrees ofrotation, the clamp will be opened at about 315 degrees counterclockwisefrom the sewing station by engagement with the camming bar 74 with theassociated projection 70, to release a finished article. Thus, eachclamp will be actuated alternately by the solenoid S1 and the cammingbar 74. Comparing FIGS. 3 and 5, it will be apparent that actuation ofthe solenoid S1 to retract its output shaft 73 against the action of aspring 75 will be permit the projection 70 to sweep past the face of thearm 73 and lower the clamp, thereafter precluding the solenoid S1 fromactuating the projection 70 until somewhat less than 360 degrees laterin the rotation of the drum when the projection 70 will again beretracted by striking the arm 73 in the deenergized state of thesolenoid.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the control circuit for the apparatus of myinvention is shown. As indicated, the apparatus is provided with a startpushbutton PBI, which when momentarily depressed :and released closesand then opens two circuits. The first circuit comprises an energizingcircuit for the clamp release solenoid S1, and the second circuit causesthe energization of a conventional relay R1 to close its front contactsa and b. These circuits will be completed when the AC line is energized,and may be interrupted when desired by a conventional main switch in oneside of the line, not shown.

A second energizing circuit for the relay R1 extends over a manuallyoperated switch SW1, the button sensing switch SW2 in its closedposition, a front contact a of a relay R4 closed when the relay isenergized, and the switches SW3 and SW4 in series. The switch SW1 isprovided with manual and automatic positions, to provide forstep-by-step or automatic sequential action, respectively. A stickcircuit for the relay R1 is closed over its own front contact a andincludes the arm switch SW5 actuated by the button feeding attachment 2in its normal position. It will be recalled that the arm switch SW5 ismomentarily changed to its opposite position by the cam 81, and willthus open the holding circuit for the relay R1, toward the end of thestroke of the arm 62 of the button feeding attachment.

A button feeding attachment actuating solenoid S2, which has an outputshaft connected to the arm 104 that starts the operation of the buttonfeeding attachment described above, has an actuating circuit closed overthe front contact b of the relay R1 in the energized state of the relay.

A conventional relay R2 has an energizing circuit which is closed whenthe arm switch SW5 is momentarily actuated, and the relay is providedwith a stick circuit extending over its own front contact a, the frontcontact a of a slow pickup relay R5, and over the contacts of theposition switches PS1 and PS2 in parallel.

The stop solenoids S3 and S4 have alternately closed circuit pathsextending over the orientation switch SW6 in one of its states, and overthe front contact b of the relay R2, closed when that relay isenergized.

The relay R5 and a parallel slow pickup relay R6 have energizingcircuits closed over either of the position switches PS1 and PS2. Therelays R5 and R6 are arranged in a conventional manner to pick up aboutone-half second after they are energized, and to release quickly.

A conventional relay R3 has an energizing circuit closed over either ofthe motor start switches M51 and MS2, which it will be recalled werearranged to be actuated by the stop solenoids S3 and S4 when energized.A stick circuit for the relay R3 is provided which extends over its ownfront contact a and the back contact b of the relay R4, closed when thatrelay i released.

The drive motor 32 has an energizing circuit extending over the frontcontacts b and c of the relay R3 in the energized state of the relay,providing current from the AC line to cause the motor to run in aforward direction. The motor circuit has an open state with the relay R3released and the relay R6 energized, and a state in which DC is appliedacross its terminals when the relay R6 is released and the relay R3 isreleased. The purpose of this last mentioned circuit for the motor 32will be brought out in the description of operation, which follows.

Referring first to FIG. 6, assume that the AC line is energized. Withthe drum in the position shown in FIG. 4, the position switch PS1 willbe closed by the cam 47 acting on the roller actuator 46. The relays R5and R6 will accordingly be energized, and the circuit for the motor 32will be open. Other apparatus in FIG. 6 will be in the condition shown.Referring to FIG. 5, the clamp 7 will be raised as shown, and the clamp7a will be in engaged position, but without an attached shirt front.

Next, assume that a shirt front 6 is placed on the machine as indicatedin FIG. 1, and that it has been brought down so that its end extendsbeneath the clamp 7. The operator now depresses the pushbutton FBI inFIG. 6, and the clamp solenoid S1 will be energized, pulling the pin '73in FIG. 5 away to release the projection 70 to cause the clamp 7 to bebrought down to hold the shirt front 6. At the same time, the relay R1will be energized and will complete a stick circuit over its frontcontact a and the arm switch SW5 in the position shown.

With the relay R1 energized, the button feeding attachment actuatingsolenoid S2 will be energized to actuate the shaft 104 indicatedschematically in FIG. 6 and in FIG. 1, causing the button feedingattachment 2 to actuate the lever 136 to start the sewing machine 1 andsew the first button at the first location. At the completion of thisoperation, the sewing machine 1 will actuate the arm 164 to cause thebutton feeding machine to place a new button on the sewing machine, andat the end of the stroke of the arm 62 of the button feeding attachmentto accomplish the last named purpose, the arm switch SW5 will bemomentarily actuated by the cam 81, opening the circuit for the relay R1and allowing it to release, and closing the energizing circuit for therelay R2. The relay R2 will complete its stick circuit over its ownfront contact a and the front contact a of the relay R5, energized asdescribed above, and over the closed contact of the position switch PS1.

With the relay R2 energized and the orientation switch in the positionshown with the apparatus in the condition shown elsewhere in thedrawings, the stop solenoid S3 will be energized, pulling its associatedlatch 58 out of engagement with the keeper in the first stop cam 47. Atthe end of the stroke of the solenoid S3, it will momentarily closemotor start switch MSl. Referring again to FIG. 6, with the motor startswitch M51 closed, the relay R3 will be energized and will complete itsstick circuit over its own front contact a and the back contact b of thedeenergized relay R4. AC current will then be supplied to the motor 32over the front contacts b and c of the relay R3, and the motor willdrive the drum away from the initial position. As this occurs, the stopswitch SW3 will close, the position switch PS1 will open and the relaysR5 and R6 will be deenergized. The release of the relay R6 prepares theDC circuit for the motor 32, but it is not yet closed at this time. Therelease of the relay R5 will prepare the pickup circuit for the relayR4, but this circuit will not yet be closed because neither of theposition switches PS1 or PS2 is closed.

When the drum 5 has rotated sufficiently, the second cam 48 will engagethe actuator 46 for the position switch PS1 to close it. As the cam 48approaches the latch 58, the latch is cammed up over the edge of the cam48 against the force of the spring 62 so that it falls into the keeper.The relays R5 and R6 will not yet pick up, being delayed as describedabove, and the relay R4 will be picked up over the back contact a of therelay R5. With the relay R4 picked up, the stick circuit for the relayR3 will be interrupted and this relay will release. The first buttonsewn on the panel will now close the button sensing switch SW2. At thesame time, the closed front contact a of the relay R4 will complete thepickup circuit for the relay R1 over closed contacts of the switchesSW1, SW2, SW3 and SW4, whereupon the relay R1 will be picked up andclose its holding circuit over its front contact a and the arm switchSW5 in its normal position.

When the relay R3 is released with the relay R6 not yet picked upbecause of its time delay, DC current is applied from the battery B overthe back contacts a and b of the relay R6 and the back contacts b and cof the relay R3 to the motor 32, causing the motor to lock at thenearest poles and urging the drum 5 forward with the rear edge of thelatch 58 engaging the rear face of the slot in the cam 48. The motorthus briefly holds the latch firmly against the rear edge of the keepercam, applying some tension to the shirt front as determined by thetension arm 15.

When the relays R5 and R6 pick up at the end of their delay period, theDC circuit just described is broken and the circuit for the relay R4 isbroken, causing it to release. Opening the DC circuit permits the camlatch to relax toward the center of the keeper, there being providedfrom about to inch clearance for this purpose. The fabric is therebyloosened sufiicien-tly to allow the button to be moved during the sewingoperation.

The shirt positioning apparatus is now locked in the second position,and actuation of the solenoid S2 by closure of the front contact b ofthe relay R1 commences a new cycle of sewing, followed by buttonrepositioning, and terminating with the actuation of the arm switch SW5to pick up the relay R2, as before. This sequence of operation willcontinue until the apparatus has been successively positioned by thecams 49 and 50. When the sewing cycle following the engagement of thelatch 58 with the cam 51 has been completed, and the button feedingattachment has completed its cycle and placed a new button in the sewingmachine clamp, the arm switch SW5 will be actuated to pick up the relayR2 and actuate the stop solenoid S3 over the orientation switch SW6, asbefore. The motor start switch MSl will again be energized, causing therelay R3 to pick up and the motor 32 to begin to run. This action willcontinue until the cam 47 reaches a position 180 degrees displaced fromthe position shown in FIG. 4, at which time the stop switch SW4 will beopened by the extension 52 on the cam 47 and the position switch PS2will be actuated by the associated faces on the cam 47. Operation of therelays R5 and R6 to sequentially pick up the relay R4, releasing therelay R3, apply DC current to the motor M32, and then release the DCcurrent, will be as before. However, the relay R4 will be ineffective toinitiate a new sewing cycle because the stop switch SW4 will now beopen. The apparatus will remain in this condition until a new operationis commenced by placing another shirt front on the machine and actuatingthe pushbutton PBI as before.

At about degrees from the position shown in FIG. 4, in the direction ofmotion described, the projection 70 on the lever 69 associated with theclamp 7a strikes the camming bar 74 and causes the clamp 7a to open upand release the first shirt front, allowing it to drop down on the draperack 12. Just before the clamp 7a reaches the sewing location, it isreleased by the camming bar 74, and the clamp rides through the sewingstation in closed position. As the clamp 7a passes through the sewingstation, going towards the location shown for the clamp 7 in FIG. 5, theprojection 70 will strike the arm 73 of the clamp release solenoid S1,and the clamp will be raised to the position shown for the clamp 7 inFIG. 5, in position to receive the next shirt front. A second shirtfront may then be placed in position a indicated in FIG. 1, and thesecond sewing cycle initiated by depressing the start buttom PBI. Duringthis secondcycle, 'the cams 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 will cooperate withthe upper position switch PS2 and the upper stop solenoid S4 tosuccessively bring the shirt front to the positions for sewing on theseveral buttons. At the end of the second cycle, the apparatus will bebrought to rest in the position shown in FIG. 4 by the position switchPS1 and the stop switch SW3 acting to prevent a continuation of thedrive.

Recalling that the operation of the apparatus to cause it to step fromone position to the next as the button feeding attachment completes itsoperation is dependent on the pickup circuit for the relay R1 whichextends over the switch SW1, it will be apparent that by putting thisswitch in its manual position, operation following the depression of thepushbutton PBl will simply consist in a single cycle operation of thesewing machine and the button feeding attachment followed by a singlemotion of the drum to the next latched position. Thus, by putting theswitch SW1 in its manual position, the apparatus may be conditioned tooperate one step at a time.

While I have described my invention with respect to the details of aparticular preferred embodiment thereof, many changes and variationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading mydescription, and such can obviously be made without departing from thescope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A rotary fabric positioner, comprising a support, a fabric clampmounted on said support, an alternating current induction motor having astator and a rotor connected to rotate said support in a predeterminedsense in response to alternating current applied to said motor to carrysaid clamp in a circular path, said rotor and stator having a set ofstable relative angular positions to the nearest of which the rotor isdriven when the motor is energized with direct current, a set of camsadjusta'bly mounted on said support for movement therewith in a closedpath and each formed with a keeper for a latch, a latch having a camengaging portion comprising a cam surface forriding over a cam andentering the keepers with clearance, latch control means fixed withrespect to said rotor and comprising means yieldably urging said latchto an extended position in the path of the keepers on said cams at alocation to enter the keepers just ahead of a position at which saidrotor is in one of its stable positions with respect to the stator insaid sense of rotation of the support and retracting means operable whenenergized to retract the latch out of the path of the cams, switchingmeans actuable to a first state, a second state, and a third state,means control-led by said switching means in its first state forapplying alternating current to said motor, means controlled by saidswitching means in its second state for applying direct current to saidmotor, means actuated by said latch control means when energized forsetting said switching means to its first state, control means actuatedby each cam as it encounters said latch during rotation of said drum toset said switching means to its second state, and time delay meansactuated by each cam as it encounters said latch during rotation of saiddrum to set said switching means to its third state a predetermined timeafter said latch enters the keeper in the cam.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising tensioning means fixedwith respect to said stator for yieldably engaging a fabric article oneend of which is held by said clamp, whereby when a fabric article isheld by said clamp and engaged by said tensioning means and saidretracting means is energized, said support is rotated until saidcontrol means is actuated and said latch is forced against one edge of akeeper in one of said cams and then released, causing the article to beadvanced under tension and then slackened.

3. A rotating fabric positioner, comprising a drum journalled forrotation about a predetermined axis, a fabric clamp mounted on theperiphery of said drum, an alternating current induction motor having astator and a rotor connected to rotate said drum in a predeterminedsense in response to alternating current applied to said motor, saidrotor and stator having a set of stable relative angular positions tothe nearest of which the rotor is driven when the motor is energizedwith direct current, a set of cams adjustably mounted on said drum formovement therewith over a closed path and each formed with a keeper fora latch, a switch fixed with respect to said stator and closed by eachof said cams in a different rotated position of said drum within apredetermined range of positions, a latch mounted for movement to firstand second positionseach fixed with respect to said stator, said latchbeing located in its first position to extend into the keeper on each ofsaid cams in different rotated positions of the drum corresponding tothe positions at which said switch is closed and located in its secondposition to be withdrawn from the path of the cams, said latch beinglocated just ahead of a position at which said rotor is in one of itsstable positions with respect to the stator in said sense of rotation ofthe drum, means for yieldably urging said latch to its first position,release means actuable to move said latch to its second position, saidlatch having a cam engaging portion comprising a cam surface for ridingover a cam and into the keeper therein and said portion being movableover a limited range within the keeper upon rotation of said drum,switching means actuable to a first state, a second state and a thirdstate, means controlled by said switching means in its first state forapplying alternating current to said motor, means controlled by saidswitching means in its second state for applying direct cur-rent to saidmotor, means controlled by said latch in its second position foractuating said switching means to its first state, means controlled bysaid switch for setting said switching means to its second state whensaid switch is closed, time delay means controlled by said switch forsetting said switching means to its third state a predetermined timeafter said switch is closed, and tensioning means fixed with respect tosaid stator for yieldably engaging a fabric article one end of which isheld by said clamp, whereby when a fabric article is held by said clampand engaged by said tensioning means and said release means is actuated,said drum is rotated until said switch is closed and said latch isforced against one edge of a keeper in one of said cams and thenreleased, causing the article to be advanced under tension and thenslackened.

4. In combination, button sewing means operative when actuated to sew abutton on a piece of material at a predetermined location, buttonfeeding means operative when actuated to actuate said sewing means andcontrolled by said sewing means to supply another button to said sewingmeans after each sewing operation is completed, a support rotatablymounted adjacent said sewing means, clamp means on said support havingan open position and a closed position for holding one end of a fabricarticle in one of a set of sewing positions at said location dependenton the rotated position of said support within a predetermined range ofrotated positions, fabric guiding and tensioning means mounted adjacentsaid sewing means opposite said clamp for yieldably guiding andtensioning said fabric, means actuated by said button feeding means forrotating said support to bring a fabric article grasped by said clampand engaged by said guiding and tensioning means to a subsequent sewingposition in said set when a button has been supplied to said sewingmeans, a switch biased to a first position and located for actuation toa second position by said support in a rotated position of said supportbeyond said range, means controlled by said switch and said support andresponsive to the rotated position of said support in the first positionof the switch for actuating said button feeding means when the supportreaches each position corresponding to one of said sewing positions insaid set except the first, means controlled by said button feeding meansand said switch in its first position to rotate the support beyond saidrange until said switch is actuated to its second state by the supportmeans after the last sewing position has been reached and the buttonreplaced, and means fixed with respect to said sewing means foractuating said clamp to release a fabric article held thereby at arotated position of said support between the position corresponding tothe last sewing position in said set and the position at which saidswitch is actuated.

'5. Apparatus for sequentially performing sewing operations at asequence of spaced locations on an article of fabric, comprising sewingmeans responsive to an applied input signal to sequentially perform asewing operation and produce an output signal, a support rotatablymounted adjacent said sewing means, clamp means mounted on said supportfor holding a fabric article in one of a series of sewing positions onsaid sewing means in dependence on the rotated position of said support,a set of position locating means mounted on said support for rotationtherewith, position control means fixed with respect to said sewingmeans and located in position for sequential engagement by said positionlocating means upon rotation of said support, a stop switch fixed withrespect to said sewing means, said stop switch being biased to a firstposition and being located for actuation to a second position by thefirst of said position locating means in a rotated position of saidsupport beyond the position at which the last position locating meansengages the position control means, drive means controlled by said stopswitch, said position control means and said sewing means and set to asecond state by said position control means upon engagement by any ofsaid position locating means and operable in its first state to rotatesaid support in its first state in a predetermined sense, meansresponsive to engagement of said position control means with any of saidposition locating means for sup-plying an input signal to said sewingmeans, and manually operable means for applying an input signal to saidsewing means to initiate a sewing cycle.

6. Button sewing means responsive to a start signal to sequentially sewa button on a piece of material at a predetermined location and prepareanother button for sewing, signal producing means controlled by saidbutton sewing means for producing an output signal when a button hasbeen sewn and another button has been prepared for sewing, materialpositioning means comprising a material clamp for holding a piece ofmaterial and rotary positioning means settable to first and secondstates for rotating said clamp about a predetermined axis in its firststate to carry the material through a range of movement including a setof sewing positions with respect to said sewing means and holding saidclamp against rotation in its second state, a switch biased to a firststate and actuable to a second state, means rotatable with said clampfor actuating said switch to its second state at which the material isbeyond said range, angular positioning means rotatable with said clampfor producing position signals at each of a set of angular positions ofsaid clamp at which the material is within said range, means controlledby said switch in its first state for applying the signals from saidsensing means to set said rotary positioning means to its second state,manually actuable mean for applying a start signal to said button sewingmeans, means responsive to the output signal from said button sewingmeans to set said drive means to its first state to rotate the clampuntil the next sensing means signal is applied, and means controlled bysaid sensing means and said rotary positioning means in its second statefor supplying a start signal to said button sewing means.

7. In combination, button sewing means responsive to a start signal tosequentially sew a button on a fabric article at a predeterminedlocation and prepare another button for sewing, signal producing meanscontrolled by said button sewing means for producing an output signalwhen a button has been sewn and another button has been prepared forsewing, article positioning means comprising a fabric clamp having anopen position and a closed position for holding a fabric article androtary positioning means actuable to first and second states forrotating said clamp about a predetermined axis in its first state tocarry a fabric article held by the clamp through a range of sewingpositions with respect to said sewing means and holding said clampagainst rotation in its second state, first angular position sensingmeans rotatable with said clamp for supplying signals to set said drivemeans to its second state at each of a set of angular positions of saidclamp, manually actuable means for applying a start signal to saidbutton sewing means, means responsive to the output signal from saidbutton sewing means for setting said drive means to its first state torotate the clamp until the next sensing means signal is supplied, secondposition sensing means rotatable with said clamp and actuated from afirst to a second state at a predetermined rotated angle of said clampbeyond the range of operation of said first sensing means, meanscontrolled by a signal from said first sensing means, said secondsensing means in its first state, and said positioning means in itssecond state for supplying a start signal to said button sensing means,and means controlled by said second position sensing means in its secondstate for setting said positioning means to its second state.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means connected to saidclamp for yieldably urging it to its closed position and clamp actuatingmeans fixed with respect to said sewing means and located for engagementwith said clamp to set the clamp to its open position over a range ofrotated positions between the range of operation of said first sensingmeans and the position at which said second sensing means is actuated toits second state.

9. In combination; a sewing means including a sewing station andoperable when actuated to sequentially sew a button on a fabric articleat the sewing station, actuating means for actuating said sewing meansto sew a button on a fabric article; first signal producing means toproduce a first signal when the sewing of the button by the sewing meanshas been completed; button feeding means to supply sequentially a buttonto said sewing means for the sewing operation; button feeding actuatingmeans to actuate the button feeding means and responsive to the firstsignal; a second signal producing means to produce a second signal; andan article positioning means comprising a drum adapted to be rotatedthrough a series of work positions, a releasable fabric clamp on thedrum for holding one edge of a fabric article, and means to drive thedrum to one of a series of sewing positions, said means actuated by thesecond signal, the drum carrying the fabric on its surface through aportion of a circular path.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said article positioning meanscomprises a drum on which said clamp is mounted, a series of positiondetermining cams adjustably mounted on said drum and each formed with alatch keeper, a retractable cam latch having a retracted position andbiased to an extended position for engaging a different one of saidkeepers in each of said series of sewing positions and holding the drumagainst rotation, drive means actuable to a first state for rotatingsaid drum and a second state, means controlled by said second signal forsequentially setting said cam latch to its retracted position and thenreleasing it, means controlled by said latch in its retracted positionfor setting said drive means to its first state, means controlled bysaid cams at rotated positions corresponding to said series of sewingpositions for setting said drive means to its second state, and stopcontrol means actuated by one of said cams at a rotated position beyondthe position corresponding to the last sewing position for setting saiddrive means to its second state.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for engaging andreleasing said clamp over a range of rotated positions between therotated position at which said stop control means is actuated and theposition corresponding to the last sewing position.

12. In combination, a motor having a rotatable drive shaft, a .supportmounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith about a predeterminedaxis, clamp means mounted on said support and means for actuating saidclamp to a closed position for holding an article on said support and toan open position, a set of cams mounted on said support each located ata different angular position about said axis, each cam having a firstcam surface and a latch keeper, a first of said cams having a second camsurface, a first switch fixed with respect to said motor and located inposition to be actuated from a first state to a second state by thefirst cam surface of said cams at a different angle of said support foreach cam, a second switch fixed with respect to said motor and locatedin position to be actuated from a first state to a second state by thesecond cam surface of said first cam at a rotated angle of said supportbeyond the angle at which the first switch is actuated by the last cam,latch means fixed with respect to said motor and means for actuatingsaid latch means to a disengaged position and an engaged position inwhich said latch means engages each of said keepers at a rotated angleof said support at which the cam actuates the first switch, switchingmeans having first and second states and actuated to its first state bysaid latching means in its disengaged position and said second switch inits first state for supplying power to said motor to rotate saidsupport, means actuated by said first switch in its second state forsetting said switching means to its first state and producing an outputsignal, and means fixed with respect to said motor for engaging andopening said clamp means at a rotated angle of said support between theangle at which the last cam actuates the first switch and the angle atwhich the first cam actuates the second switch.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising sewing meansresponsive to said output signal for sequentially performing a sewingoperation on a fabric article held at one end by said clamp and secondsignal producing means producing a second signal, and switching meanscontrolled by said second signal for actuating said latch means to itsdisengaged position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising fabric guiding andtensioning means located adjacent said sewing means and opposite saidclamp for yieldably engaging a fabric article held at one end by saidclamp and guiding the article smoothly under tension to said sewingmeans, and in Which said sewing means performs a button sewingoperation, said latch means engages said keepers with clearance, andsaid motor is an alternating current induction motor, and furthercomprising means actuated by said switching means in its first state forapplying a short pulse of direct current to said motor to urge a camengaged by the latch means forward and then allow it to relax to slackenthe fabric and permit slight motion thereof during the sewing operation.

15. Rotary positioning apparatus for flexible articles, comprising asupport provided with an article support surface and an arcuate articleguide having a surface conforming to a cylindrical segment separatedfrom said support surface by a work space, resilient means mounted onsaid support for yieldably engaging an article and urging it againstsaid support surface, a drum 'rotatably mounted on said support, saiddrum having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said segmentand being located adjacent said arcuate article guide, a releasableclamp mounted on the periphery of said drum and eX- tending over saidarcuate guide over a predetermined rotated angle of said drum, whereby aflexible article held at one end by said clamp, overlying said workspace and engaged by said resilient means is drawn over said arcuateguide upon rotation of said drum and is held over the work space underuniform tension; and sequencing means responsive to a series of applied.signals for rotating said drum to successive ones of a set ofpredetermined angles to bring a corresponding set of locations on aflexible article to the work space.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means located on saidsupport for engaging and releasing said clamp at an angle of said drumbetween the first and the last of said set.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,619,707 12/1952 Young et al.

2,996,935 8/1961 Williams 74-816 3,068,816 12/1962 McBean et al. 112-653,073,267 1/1963 Reeber et al. 112-2 3,083,653 4/1965 McGill 112-2.3,178,000 8/ 1965 Myska 112-2 PATRICK D, LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, J. R. BOLER,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A ROTARY FABRIC POSITIONER, COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A FABRIC CLAMPMOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, AN ALTERNATING CURRENT INDUCTION MOTOR HAVING ASTATOR AND A ROTOR CONNECTED TO ROTATE SAID SUPPORT IN A PREDETERMINEDSENSE IN RESPONSE TO ALTERNATING CURRENT APPLIED TO SAID MOTOR TO CARRYSAID CLAMP IN A CIRCULAR PATH, SAID ROTOR AND STATOR HAVING A SET OFSTABLE RELATIVE ANGULAR POSITIONS TO THE NEAREST OF WHICH THE ROTOR ISDRIVEN WHEN THE MOTOR IS ENERGIZED WITH DIRECT CURRENT, A SET OF CAMSADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH IN A CLOSEDPATH AND EACH FORMED WITH A KEEPER FOR A LATCH, A LATCH HAVING A CAMENGAGING PORTION COMPRISING A CAM SURFACE FOR RIDING OVER A CAM ANDENTERING THE KEEPER WITH CLEARANCE, LATCH CONTROL MEANS FIXED WITHRESPECT TO SAID ROTOR AND COMPRISING MEANS YIELDABLY URGING SAID LATCHTO AN EXTENDED POSITION IN THE PATH OF THE KEEPERS ON SAID CAMS AT ALOCATION TO ENTER THE KEEPERS JUST AHEAD OF A POSITIONS AT WHICH SAIDROTOR IS IN ONE OF ITS STABLE POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE STATOR INSAID SENSE OF ROTATION OF THE SUPPORT AND RETRACTING MEANS OPERABLE WHENENERGIZED TO RETRACT THE LATCH OUT OF THE PATH OF THE CAMS, SWITCHINGMEANS ACTUABLE TO A FIRST STATE, A SECOND STATE, AND A THIRD STATE,MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID SWITCHING MEANS IN ITS FIRST STATE FOR APPLY-